Ice tray



y 4, 1938. A. c. FFFFF ER 2,118,538

I C E T R AY Patented May 24, 1938 ICE TRAY

Albert Fischer, Chicago, Ill. Application February 15, 1932, Serial No. 593,026

Claims.

This invention relates to ice trays for mechanical refrigerators and the like, particularly pertaining to skeleton forms which may be inserted within an ice tray and then readily sepa- 5 rated torelease the formed ice cubes.

The invention consists in the features, combinations and processes hereinafter described or claimed, for carrying out the above stated objects and such other objects as will hereinafter appear.

The skeleton forms now in use in ice trays are of a construction and of a material which securely bonds with the ice, and the result is that it is difficult to release the ice cubes for use. It is the object of this invention to make the skeleton forms of a construction which makes it possible to release the ice cubes very readily for use.

For a better understanding of the invention, reference may be made to the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a complemental section of one skeleton form of my invention for use in ice trays;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the complete skeleton form inserted within an ice tray;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of another embodiment in which the complemental sections are combined into a single unit; and

Fig. 4 is a plan view of still another embodiment.

Referring to the drawing, numeral 2 designates a tray of any conventional design into which the skeleton form, denoted generally by numeral 3, may be inserted for causing water within same to freeze into small units of any desired size.

The skeleton unit is typified by two complemental sections 4 and 5, each of which may be provided on one face with spaced projecting ribs 6 to form intervening recesses 1 extending transversely of the sections flush with the marginal edges. The two complemental sections may then be juxtaposed in direct contact with the respective ribs of each section in alignment, or, if it be desired to form smaller ice units, a flat plate 8 may be interposed between the sections. The skeleton unit may be inserted flatwise in the tray as shown in Fig. 2, or it may be inserted edgewise in the manner as shown in the embodiment hereinafter described.

The sections and intervening plate may all be of metal material or of some molded composition, such as, rubber. Or the plate may be of one material and the sections of another material. However, whether the sections be of metal or of rubber material, they are preferably substantially flexible in order to be flexed for release of the ice cubes.

The embodiment in Fig. 3 shows a skeleton unit of the same general structure as above described, differing therefrom, however, by making the unit in an integral piece 9 which is adapted to be flexed back to release the cubes. The integral piece 9 is provided with a series of spaced ribs l0 oppositely arranged whereby they may be contacted at their ends or with an interposed plate II to form a series of spaces I2 when an integral piece is coiled for insertion in the tray. It is evident that the structure of Fig. 3 could be placed in the position shown in a square tray or it could be placed in a tray twice as long and half as wide by swinging its two halves about their point of connection until they were in alinement.

The embodiment in Fig. 4 is somewhat similar to one of the half sections of Fig. 3. The integral piece I3 is retroverted upon itself with ribs I4 outwardly disposed to cooperate with the tray for dividing it into a number of small divisions I5. In other words, the structure of Fig. 4 could be opened out and doubled over the opposite way to provide an arrangement similar to one half of Fig. 3 with the plate H removed therefrom.

While I have shown the preferred embodiments typifying my invention, and described them in detail, it will be understood that the invention is not limited thereby. Various changes may be 3 made in details of construction Without departing from the spirit of the invention.

I claim:

1. An ice forming unit comprising a tray and a skeleton form within the tray, said skeleton form including complementary sections each having a series of spaced ribs extending only from one face and joined by a flexible connection, whereby said sections may be flexed in selective positions to provide ice cubes of different sizes.

2. A skeleton unit for ice trays comprising complemental sections, each of which includes a longitudinal member which is provided with a fiat face and with spaced ribs projecting from the other face to space the longitudinal members apart when juxtaposed a distance corresponding substantially to the combined lengths of said spaced ribs.

3. A skeleton unit for ice trays comprising complemental sections, each one of which includes a longitudinal member which is provided with spaced ribs projecting from one face to space the longitudinal members apart when juxtaposed a distance corresponding substantially to the combined lengths of said spaced ribs, and a separating plate interposed between the sections.

4. A skeleton for ice trays comprising an elongated flexible element provided with a flat face and on the opposite face with a series of ribs, said flexible element adapted to be retroverted with the flat portions of the face in contact and with the ribs in aligned relation and diametrically disposed.

5. The combination of a tray and a flexible mold device arranged therein the mold comprising a plurality of substantially similar sections having each a plurality of ice forming pockets therein arranged to cooperate with the corresponding pockets of the other sections to form, when the sections are superposed one on another,

enlarged pockets equal in number to the ones in any one section and having each a total height equal to the combined height of the component pockets.

6. The combination of a tray and a flexible mold device arranged therein the mold comprising a plurality of substantially similar sections having each a plurality of ice forming pockets therein arranged to cooperate with the corresponding pockets of the other sections to form, when the sections are placed in contact one with the other; enlarged pockets equal in number to the ones in anyone section and each having one ofits dimensions equal to the sum of the combined corresponding dimensions of the component pockets.

'7. The combination of a tray and a flexible mold device arranged therein, the mold comprising a plurality of sections having each a plurality of ice forming pockets therein arranged to cooperate with the: corresponding pockets of the other sections to form, when the sections are superposed one on another, enlarged pockets equal in number to the ones in any one section and each having a capacity equal to the sum of the combined capacities of the component pockets.

8. An ice forming unit comprising a tray and a skeleton form removably inserted within said tray, said skeleton form comprising an elongated flexible element having a flat face and another face having a series of spaced ribs projecting therefrom, said elongated element being adapted tosbe selectively folded about its longitudinal center so as to form corresponding sections with their flat faces in back to back relation or so as to bring the: ends of each rib on one section into engagement with the end of the corresponding rib on the'other section.

9. An ice forming unit comprising a tray and a pair of sections swingably connected at one end and normally arranged in back to backl'relation, each: section having a. series of spaced ribs extending therefrom in position to form, with a wall of. the tray, a plurality of ice forming spaces or to engage, at their free'ends, the free ends of the corresponding ribs of the other and thereby forma plurality of enlarged ice forming spaces.

10.v A skeleton. unitfor' an ice tray comprising a normally elongated flexibleelement having ribs projecting from one face thereof, said element being'folded to provide a pair of complementary sections withribs directed one toward another interiorly of the unit and a plate removably interposedbetween the ends'of such. ribs.

ALBERT C. FISCHER. 

